[Comparative histochemical study of human mammary myoepithelium (author's transl)]

12 staining procedures for myoepithelial cells were compared on normal human breast tissue sections. From this study it appeared that general histological stains have a topographical value but lack real specificity. With other methods, which have been considered more specific, 2 types of pitfalls were encountered. Myoepithelial cells and other substances like basement membranes and reticulum fibers are both stained; in other instances perigalactophoric elastic fibers and myoepithelial fibrils have similar tinctorial properties. The fundaments of the lack of specificity of those histochemical procedures are analyzed.